Mother’s concern over 12-month wait to find suitable school for her son

Kelyanne Hall, is having trouble getting her son Joshua, 12, who has learning difficulties into a school to suit his needs. NNL-170322-003144009

Published:11:48Wednesday 22 March 2017

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Concerned Bishops Itchington mother Kellyanne Hall has spoken of the struggle she is having to find a suitable school for her son to go to.

Joshua, 12, who has recently been diagnosed with autism and also has attachment disorder, learning difficulties and anxiety problems, has not been to school for almost 12 months.

Miss Hall says she has attended numerous meetings with Warwickshire County Council officers but so far there has been no success in finding an education provision for her son.

She said: “This puts an extreme amount of stress on our family as I also have two daughters who have autism, my oldest daughter Mia also goes to a special needs school and is only on a part time basis so having them both at home, is extremely stressful.

“Because of this, Joshua has extremely low self confidence and has become very withdrawn and reclusive. He doesn’t really have any social life apart from attending Youth Club once a week.

“There is not much for him to do in the village and this is very stressful for him.

“I just want my son to be at the right school for him and to be a happy and confident young boy.”

Joshua had been attending Bishops Itchington Primary school up to 2015 and was then moved to The Discovery Academy in Nuneaton.

But the one hour taxi journey he had to take to and from the school eventually became too much for him and caused him to have anxiety attacks.

The academy later sent two teaching assistants to work with him at home but it was eventually decided that this was not suitable for Joshua so it asked the county council to find him a new school.

A council spokesperson said: “Our education department strives to work with parents and schools to secure the best possible outcomes for all pupils.”